March 1st BBQ and shoot a great success

About a dozen members plus two new members turned up for this event.

The company was good. The fellowship was excellent. The late afternoon light was just OK. Basically, everyone enjoyed the occasion. BUT, the wind blew, blew and blew some more - very challenging shooting conditions.

At the breakwater some of us got dumped on by over-spray breeching the top of the breakwater and up at Thunder Point we had to protect ourselves and our gear from becoming sand-blasted.

The sunset lasted just a few minutes but most of us managed to shoot a couple of 'keepers'.

Anyway, thanks to the committee for organising the night - let's have more of these on our calendar of events for the year.

Sample image shot on the night:

"Glowing Breakwater" Copyright R Neal. Click image to view larger.

Everyone who attended the shoot are encouraged to post a comment and sample image shot on the night.

BBQ Thursday 1st March 2012 at 6:00 PM

UPDATE.   IT's ON!!! 

The BBQ is still on at Lake Pertobe and while it may be a little chilly it should still be OK with the shelter that is down there.  If last night was any indication I think we should get some great photos although please remember to bring your winter woolies. 

See you at 6:00 PM.

Stan.

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A reminder to all that we are having a BBQ at lake pertobe followed by a photo opportunity at Thunderpoint.

Please meet at the middle BBQ's nearest the boats at 6:00 PM.

After a chance to cook up a feast we will either go around to the Breakwater or Thunderpoint to take some shots. Sunset is not until 8:08 PM so we will probably go to the Breakwater first.

If you cannot make the BBQ at 6:00 PM you will need to be at the BBQ's by 7:15 so you know where we have gone.

If you have any questions please call or email Stan.

ALTERNATE PLAN IF WET:

If the night turns out to be wet we will meet at the Church hall for a regular night, obviously without a photo competition. We will be arranging alternative activities in this case. We will update this blog with a confirmed meeting point at 4:00 PM on Thursday the 1st March.

Adobe's new Photoshop pricing structure unfair to customers

Quote from Scott Kelby's Open Letter to Adobe Systems, about their proposed new pricing structures...

"when the next version of Photoshop and the Creative Suite is released, if you do not already own Photoshop version CS5 or CS5.5 (or the 5 or 5.5 Creative Suite):

(a) You will not be eligible to upgrade to Photoshop CS6 (or the CS6 Creative Suite). Instead the only way to get Photoshop CS6 at that point will be to repurchase the entire product again at its full price (presumably $699 US). If you’re a CS4 Creative Suite User, you’ll have to buy the entire suite all over again to move to CS6.

(b) For Photoshop CS4, or CS3 users, their only real option is to pay to upgrade now to CS5.5 (though you are offering a 20% upgrade discount upgrade until the end of the year), and then to pay again to upgrade when Photoshop CS6 is released, or sign up for your new monthly subscription plan."

If you're contemplating buying the next release of Photoshop, you need to read the complete letter at:

http://www.scottkelby.com/blog/2011/archives/22903

End of Year Christmas Dinner (1st December 2011)

Christmas Break Up Dinner

This year we will be holding the Christmas breakup at Alex's Pizza (Click for Location) in Koroit.

The night will start at 6:30 PM. Alex's Pizza is famous for their pizza and pasta but have many other delicious dishes on offer.

Please let Stan McCullagh (stanm@wcbf.com.au) know by the 26th November if you are planning to attend.

Image of the Year Night

IMAGE OF THE YEAR (IOTY)

IOTY this year will be held on the 26th November at The Church Hall (Drummond St) opposite Fonterra in Dennington. The night will start at 6:00 PM with a dinner at Rafferty's Tavern followed by a presentation at the church hall starting from 7:30 PM. If you wish to attend the dinner please let Stan McCullagh know via email stanm@wcbf.com.au

This year we have the pleasure of Peter Bellmont judging the photos. Peter has a passion for AV and will be presenting some of his work before awarding the prizes for the night. Personally I am looking forward to his presentation.

September Competition Results

Novice Print

1 Gillian Beechey	Follow My Candlelight
2 Gillian Beechey	Hatich Beer with View
3

Small Print(set Subject)

1 John Culver	Egyptian Goose
2 John Culver	Wattle
3 John Culver	Lily

Small Print Open

1 John Culver	Red Headed Weaver
2 John Culver	Orange Crab
3 John Culver	Honey Eater

Colour Print (Set Subject)

1 John Culver	Gold Pouring
2 John Culver	Fungi
3 Les Lockland	Crystal Ball

Colour Print (Open)

1 Les Lockland	Ignition
2 Roger Neal	Hell's Gate Lighthouse
3 Craig Homberg	Bright Lights

Monochrome (Set Subject)

1 Benjamin Spencer	Tightrope Bird
2 Benjamin Spencer	Hook
3

Monochrome Open

1 Roger Neal	Bunalong Beach
2 Benjamin Spencer	Congregation of Swans
3 Benjamin Spencer	Canoeing

Experimental

1 No Entries
2
3

EDPI

1 Roger Neal	Alone on a Rock
2 John Culver	Horseshoe Bend
3 John Culver	Ostrich at Sossusvlei

Close up photos without a macro lens?

Don't own a dedicated macro lens? Here's one simple way of achieving a macro look using a non-macro lens.

The flowers in these examples are less than an inch wide in real life. The shot was taken hand-held with front of lens approximately 10" from the two top flowers.
Camera settings used were: lens at 20mm, centre focus point selected with exposure mode on 'Centre Weighted' - f/3.5 at 1/200sec, ISO 400. File size set to RAW.

First image shows result after converting RAW file to .tif in PS Adobe Camera Raw. Already image is showing classic 'macro' attributes of subject in focus, background out of focus and foreground slightly out of focus.

Second image is cropped from first image for better composition and to make flowers larger in the frame. This result looks more like a macro shot.

I used my Sigma 10-20mm lens at 20mm for this exercise, but a standard 18-55mm kit lens could be used just as effectively.

August Competition Results

Novice Print

1 Jennifer Leddin	Nap Time
2 Benjamin Spencer	Holding up the Roof
3 Benjamin Spencer	Green Slime

Small Print(set Subject)

1	No Entries
2
3

Small Print Open

1 John Culver	Drying Out
2 John Culver	Qualup Bell
3 John Vandekolk	Port Fairy Show
3 (Equal Third) Benjamin Spencer	Mist over Water

Colour Print (Set Subject)

1 Diane Mugavin	Mum
2 Benjamin Spencer	Spider's Web
3

Colour Print (Open)

1 John Culver	Super Pit
2 John Culver	Pil*apper Rock
3 Diane Mugavin	Beautiful

Monochrome (Set Subject)

1	No Entries
2
3

Monochrome Open

1 Benjamin Spencer	Chess Pieces
2
3

Experimental

1 Benjamin Spencer	Fletcher Jones
2
3

EDPI

1 Roger Neal	Bunalong Beach
2 John Culver	Albany Sunrise
3 John Culver	Super Pit
(Hon Mention) Benjamin Spencer	Bubble Gum Suit

July Competition Results

Novice Print

1 Benjamin Spencer	Snail Shell
2 Diane Wickson	Tranquility
3 Benjamin Spencer	Smelly

Small Print(set Subject)

1 Diane Wickson	Winsurfer
2 Benjamin Spencer	Hiking
3 Benjamin Spencer	Red Shirt Rider

Small Print Open

1 Benjamin Spencer	Spike on a Stick
2 Benjamin Spencer	Happiness
3 John Vandekolk	Portrait

Colour Print (Set Subject)

1 Les Lockland	Bowled Out
2 Graham Dixon	Early Morning Exercise Rings
3 Graham Dixon	Early Morning Exercise Blur

Colour Print (Open)

1 Benjamin Spencer	Scenic View
2 Graham Dixon	Echoes from the Past
3 Thomas Spencer	Home Sweet Home

Monochrome (Set Subject)

1 Benjamin Spencer	Bike Riding
2
3

Monochrome Open

1 Thomas Spencer	Angel of the Skies
2 Benjamin Spencer	P..sy Tails
3 Benjamin Spencer	Coast Guard Boat

Experimental

1 John Vandekolk	Cyclist
2 Benjamin Spencer	Kite wont Fly
3

EDPI

1 John Culver	Sossusvlei Duststorm
2 Graham Dixon	Guinness Tent
3 Benjamin Spencer	Vanishing Point

Ballarat International Foto Biennale

A month long celebration of photography. 20/08/11 - 18/09/11. This is a fabulous event featuring multiple photography exhibitions and workshops. It is simply amazing and well worth going. The Core festival program alone features over 20 exhibitions , with the fringe festival involving a further 65 venues around ballarat and the surrounding area.

Click on the title for more details.